The best tech accessories under $25

We rounded up some of our favorite tech accessories -- including headphones, cables, and other miscellaneous gadgets -- and each of them are available for under $25.

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The best tech accessories you can buy for $25 or less

After rounding up some of our favorite gadgets available for less than $50, we decided that wasn't good enough. So we searched and scrounged and came up with some great tech accessories that can be yours for $25 or less. The list is dominated by familiar names such as Logitech, Panasonic, SanDisk, Philips, and Amazon, and includes some headphones and flash drives for as little as $12.

Editors' note: This story was last updated on March 14, 2014 with the addition of the Belkin SurgePlus USB Swivel Charger.

Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120

When the price gets below $10, your expectation for sound quality falls exponentially. But despite the bargain-basement cost, these Panasonic in-ear headphones sound surprisingly good. Depending on which color you opt for (it comes in a range of rainbow colors, as well as basic black), the price can be as low as $4 a pair. Buy them in bulk -- or spend around $12 to get the Ergotfit RP-TCM125, which adds an inline microphone for cellphones (but doesn't sound quite as good).

Editors' Rating

Kingston DataTraveler SE9

Everyone can use a spare USB flash drive, and the Kingston DataTraveler SE9 is rugged enough to live on your keychain while storing a whopping 16GB of data (almost two DVDs' worth). The 16GB model costs only about $11, the 32GB around $21.

SanDisk Cruzer Fit

The SanDisk Cruzer Fit USB drive is almost too small -- basically a USB nub similar to the transmitter for a wireless keyboard or mouse. That said, if you're looking for a quick, easy, affordable, and low-profile way to add 16GB (under $10) or 32GB(under $20) of storage to a laptop, we can't think of a better way.

Lacie Petite Key USB drive

You'll pay a bit extra for the Lacie Petite Key compared to other USB drives, but it's worth it for the metal design, which is said to be waterproof to 100 meters. The 16GB model will run you about $20, the 32GB about $15 more.

SanDisk Ultra microSD card

Whether it's a camera or a smartphone, having a spare storage never hurts. SanDisk's microSD card works in micro or (with the included adapter) standard SD slots. You can snag a 16GB card for under $15.

SanDisk SD card

If you're gifting a camera, you'll also want to invest in a spare SD card. The SanDisk Extreme shown here is best-in-class, with 80MB per second transfer rates. But more affordable cards will get the job done, too.

AmazonBasics HDMI cable

Home theater rule number one: Don't pay extra for name-brand HDMI cables. Rather than pay $50 or more at your local Best Buy for a so-called "premium" cable, get the AmazonBasics two-pack for just $10 -- they'll work just as well, and you'll have a spare, too.

AmazonBasics iPhone 5/5S Case

There are zillions of cases available for the iPhone 5 its newer doppelganger, the 5S. But if you want a no-nonsense protector for your Apple phone, it's tough to go wrong with the AmazonBasics model, which is available in black or transparent clear plastic (great for the white or gold models) for under $4 each.

Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver

Haven't you heard? Docks are dead. It's time to go wireless, and the Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver is the easiest way to do it. Connect this dongle to any stereo (or anything with a "line in" or "aux input" port), and you can wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device. That includes all iPads, nearly any smartphone, most iPod Touch models, and most new tablets.

Editors' Rating

Lepai Tripath TA2020A+ stereo amplifier

Who said a stereo amplifier had to be expensive? If you want a "cheap but good" stereo for the a bedroom or den, just add a pair of speakers (like the $52 Dayton Audio B652s) to this little digital amp -- which costs less than $20. Given the bargain-basement price, it actually sounds pretty good, too.

Editors' Rating

Logitech Z50 speaker

When a speaker costs just $20, you need to lower your expectations. But if you don't go in expecting audiophile-level performance from the Logitech Z50, you'll find a monaural, AC-powered speaker that does a serviceable job of amplifying your phone, music player, or PC -- anything with a 3.5mm headphone jack. It's available in grey(shown), pink, or blue.

Philips SPS2150WA travel charger

Philips' nifty SPS2150WA charger folds up to protect the 3-prong AC plug when traveling. But unfold it, and you can start juicing up three standard AC devices, plus two USB products as well. It's not a surge protector, and the USB plugs only supply 1 amp of power each (so tablets like the iPad will only trickle-charge). But at just $6, we're not complaining.

Belkin SurgePlus USB Swivel Charger

As the name suggests, the Belkin SurgePlus USB Swivel Charger is a bona fide surge protector with a swiveling AC plug, which allows for maximum placement flexibility. The unit boasts 3 standard three-prong ports plus two USB connectors which -- unlike many smaller chargers -- have enough juice to power iPads and other 2.1-amp tablets (in addition to any of your other USB-powered gadgets). We wish the power prongs folded down for even easier traveling, but at just $20, it's still one of the best and most versatile travel chargers around.

AmazonBasics Lightning cables

You can find plenty of knockoff Lightning cables online, but if they're not certified by Apple, there's a good chance they won't work. That's where AmazonBasics comes in. The e-tailer's cables are officially certified, but they're less expensive than Apple's, and available in a variety of sizes (4 inches, 3 feet, and 6 feet) and colors (white or black). Just note that plastic housing around the Lightning plug may be too large for some iPhone cases.

Nomad ChargeKey

You always need to top off your phone's battery, but you don't want to lug a cable around with you. That's where the Nomad ChargeKey comes in: the 2.5-inch flexible USB dongle fits on your keychain, and can be used to juice up smartphones and tablets, so long as you can scrounge up a free USB port. It's available in Lightning (for iPhone, iPad) and Micro-USB versions (for nearly everything else) for just $25. (If you prefer to store it in your wallet, the credit card-sized ChargeCard is available for the same price.)

Logitech M325 wireless mouse

Sure, maybe the mouse is dead. And maybe touchpads and touch screens are the wave of the future. But if you're like me, you'll have to pry the mouse from my cold, dead hand. And that's why I like to have a go-to model like the Logitech M325. This 2-button wireless mouse runs on a single AA battery for months, features a tilting scroll wheel, works with Windows PCs and Macs, and will set you back just $18or so. It's available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, such as the "Into the Deep" seascape shown here.

Logitech Wireless Keyboard K360

If you're looking for a replacement PC keyboard, Logitech's Wireless Keyboard K360 is a good starting point. For under $25, you get a QWERTY powered by 2 AA batteries that uses Logitech's "Unifying" wireless USB dongle -- which also communicates with a Logitech mouse, such as the aforementioned M325. Yes, it's a laptop-style design without much "travel" in the keys, but it's a good deal and works equally well with Windows PCs or Macs.

Philips GoGear SoundDot

The iPod Shuffle costs $50, and still requires iTunes (yuck) and a USB charging/transfer dongle that's easy to misplace. This Philips GoGear SoundDot, on the other hand, can be yours for under $25. Just plug it in to your PC or Mac (the USB plug is hidden under the rotating gray clip), and drag and drop your favorite songs.

Medialink USB Bluetooth Adapter

Believe it or not, many Windows PCs still don't include Bluetooth as a standard option. Thankfully, that can be remedied by a tiny USB dongle like the Medialink USB Bluetooth Adapter. For just $15, it adds Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility to any Windows machine. We popped it into a laptop, downloaded and installed the drivers, and were streaming music to a wireless speaker a few minutes later.